R1IYNC0TA. 
39 
adult form devour numbers, the larvae of the Lace- 
wing Fly ( Chrysopa vulgaris )—but it is not common 
enough to be of much service—and the larva of the 
pretty two-winged Syrphus. But the combined effects 
of all these are not equal to those of some of the 
Hymenopterous Ichneumons, which often occurring in 
enormous quantities do eminent service in the destruc¬ 
tion of Plant-lice. The turnip crops in many of the 
midland counties, including Shropshire, suffered fearfully 
in the year 1865 from the attacks of various insects. 
The effects of the destructive work of the Aphis in the 
months of August and September of that year, were 
most remarkable. Crops that had survived the turnip- 
beetle (“Fly”) and the fat caterpillars of two moths, 
Agrotis segetum and A. exclamationis , were suddenly 
attacked by countless myriads of Aphis, chiefly of the 
species A. brassica ?. In a few days that which promised 
so well was hopelessly blighted ; the leaves first curled 
and puckered inwards, then withered and died; the 
smell arising therefrom tainted the air far and wide 
with a peculiar offensive odour. Scarcely a green 
turnip field was to be seen for miles around ; nothing 
but dead leaves, which in the distance, gave to the field 
rather the appearance of a brown fallow than a crop of 
Swedes. Towards the middle of October an avenging 
army of other insects came in myriads ; the turnip 
fields swarmed with them, your clothes were covered 
with them. They were but tiny creatures, no larger 
than the Aphis, about lj line in length and in 
expanse of wing. The insect in question was the 
Aphidius (Trionyx) rapes of Curtis, one of the Ichneu - 
monidce , whose office it is to pierce the bodies of the 
